Cap for aerosol cans or the like

ABSTRACT

A moulded cap for an aerosol can or the like. The cap is especially adapted for cans of the type having a chimed end closure forming part of the valving assembly and located inboard of the conventional chimed end of the container. The moulded cap has a chime engaging flange characterized by a multiplicity of inward extending projections therefrom each spaced from the next by a thin web of the cap material. The configuration of each projection is such that the cap can be snapped over the chimed end irrespective of distortions in the cap incident to the moulding thereof, and held to the chime periphery at a corresponding multiplicity of contact points, the rather minimal thickness of the wall material between the projections enabling any cap distortions readily to be accommodated.

La Grutta ates tet [54] CAP FOR AEROSOL CANS GK THE LIKE [72] Inventor: Pascal A. La Grutta, West Caldwell, NJ.

[73] Assignee: Container Corporation of? America,

Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Dec. 17, 1969 [2]] Appl. No.: 885,950

[52] US. Cl. ..220/60 R, 220/85 P, 222/182 [51] lint. Cl .B65d 43/10 [58] meld otSearch ..220/42 A, 60 R, 85 P, 85; 222/ 182 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,973,881 3/1961 Ostrowitz ..222/182 3,136,453 6/1964 Patton ..220/60 R X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 801,538 12/1968 Canada... ..220/97 R Primary Examiner-George E. Lowrance Attorney-Carpenter, Ostis & Lindberg AESTRACT A moulded cap for an aerosol can or the like. The cap is especially adapted for cans of the type having a chimed end closure forming part of the valving assembly and located inboard of the conventional chimed end of the container. The moulded cap has a chime engaging flange characterized by a multiplicity of inward extending projections therefrom each PAIENIEBMAR 7 I972 INVENTOR.

' PASCAL A. LAGRUTTA BY (jaw ATTORNEYS CAP FOR AEROSOL CANS OR THE LIKE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The cap according to the present invention is characterized by ease of securement to the can chime irrespective of distortions occasioned in the moulding thereof, and by being readily snapped into position.

THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an elevational view of an aerosol container having a cap thereon constructed in accordance with the present invention, certain parts thereof being shown in section;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the open end of the container cap;

FIG. 3 is a elevational view, to an enlarged scale, showing details of the locking structure thereof;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 5 is a section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

The improved cap according to the present invention is denoted by the reference numeral and is shown in situ with an aerosol container 11 having a chime 12 and a closure 13. The latter may have a chime 14 formed as part of a valve housing 16 including valve operator 17 extending therefrom.

The cap 10 includes a generally cylindrical body member 18 with a closed end l9 and a circular opening 21 in the opposite end thereof. The circular opening 21 includes an annular flange 22 having a multiplicity of spaced protrusions 32 extending inward therefrom. Each of the protrusions 23 has an upper surface 24 and a lower surface 26 extending inwardly in converging relationship with respect to each other, surface 26 being adapted to contact the chime l4 and to move therepast with a snap action upon the placement of the cap 10. The upper surface 24 is adapted to provide a locking surface for cap 10 upon placement thereof Each of the protrusions 23 is separated from a like protrusion by segments 28 of the thin annular flange 22, whereby the same may flex readily to accommodate distortions of the cap 10 incident to the moulding thereof, and to provide for a ready placement of same and removal thereof from the chime 14. Each of the protrusions 23 is integral with a stiffening rib 27 extending therefrom in a generally axial direction for stiffening the cylindrical body member 18 in generally axial directions.

It may be noted that the cap according to the present invention is shown placed in engagement with the closure 14, but it may equally as well be of a type so as to engage with the chime 12.

I claim:

1. A cap especially adapted to protect the value mechanism of an aerosol container or the like having a chime securement of said cap thereto, said cap comprising:

a. a generally cylindrical body member closed at one end thereof;

b. a generally circular opening at the other end thereof adapted to fit over said chime;

c. an annular flange at said opening;

d. a plurality of spaced protrusions extending inward from said flange and adapted to contact said chime upon placement of said cap thereover and having stiffening ribs extending from said protrusions and being integral with said body member for stiffening said body member in generally axial directions;

e. each of said protrusions having upper and lower inwardly extending converging surfaces;

i. one of said surfaces being adapted to contact said chime and move therepast with a snap action upon placement of said cap;

ii. the other of said surfaces being adapted to provide a locking surface for said cap upon placement thereof;

. each of said protrusions being separated from a like protrusion by segments of said annular flange whereby said segments may flex readily to accommodate distortrons 0 said cap and provide or ready placement upon and removal thereof from said chime. 

1. A cap especially adapted to protect the value mechanism of an aerosol container or the like having a chime securement of said cap thereto, said cap comprising: A. A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL BODY MEMBER CLOSED AT ONE END THEREOF; B. A GENERALLY CIRCULAR OPENING AT THE OTHER END THEREOF ADAPTED TO FIT OVER SAID CHIME; C. AN ANNULAR FLANGE AT SAID OPENING; D. A PLURALITY OF SPACED PROTRUSIONS EXTENDING INWARD FROM SAID FLANGE AND ADAPTED TO CONTACT SAID CHIME UPON PLACEMENT OF SAID CAP THEREOVER AND HAVING STIFFENING RIBS EXTENDING FROM SAID PROTRUSIONS AND BEING INTEGRAL WITH SAID BODY MEMBER FOR STIFFENING SAID BODY MEMBER IN GENERALLY AXIAL DIRECTIONS; E. EACH OF SAID PROTRUSIONS HAVING UPPER AND LOWER INWARDLY EXTENDING CONVERGING SURFACES; I. ONE OF SAID SURFACES BEING ADAPTED TO CONTACT SAID CHIME AND MOVE THEREPAST WITH A SNAP ACTION UPON PLACEMENT OF SAID CAP; II. THE OTHER OF SAID SURFACES BEING ADAPTED TO PROVIDE A LOCKING SURFACE FOR SAID CAP UPON PLACEMENT THEREOF; F. EACH OF SAID PROTRUSIONS BEING SEPARATED FROM A LIKE PROTRUSION BY SEGMENTS OF SAID ANNULAR FLANGE WHEREBY SAID SEGMENTS MAY FLEX READILY TO ACCOMMODATE DISTORTIONS OF SAID CAP AND PROVIDE FOR READY PLACEMENT UPON AND REMOVAL THEREOF FROM SAID CHIME. 